Oslo is smaller than most capitals, but offers all the cultural activities one expects to find in a modern capital. Oslo is a friendly and exciting city where you can find everything you need within a short distance from the downtown area.
City by the fjord
Coming to the University of Oslo is a great opportunity to experience the beautiful nature and outdoors of Norway. City parks, forests, cycling and walking routes, skiing and hiking are all within easy reach.
The city of Oslo lies at the end of the 100 kilometres long Oslo Fjord and is surrounded by sea, forests, and hills. Being so close to nature you can fast and easily reach "Marka", the forested and hilly areas surrounding Oslo, by public transport.
Green parks
Oslo’s many parks cover over 8 square kilometres of the city. More than 50% of the city of Oslo is covered by green areas, and there are hundreds of lakes within the city borders.
You can also reach many of the 40 islands in the Oslo Fjord by boat from downtown Oslo - some of them just a few minutes away.
City of contrasts
In the summer, when the sun only sets for a few hours and the sky never turns dark, people enjoy the many public beaches. The next day, you may mountain bike or hike in the woods of the Nordmarka for beautiful views of the city and fjord.
Four seasons
The climate in Oslo is milder than the latitude suggests, and in the summer the temperature normally exceeds 20°C. Yet, the winters are cold enough to make Oslo a popular city for skiing.
Skiing and snowboarding draws crowds in the winter. The Tryvann ski centre has something for skiers of all levels. Nordmarka has hundreds of kilometers of cross-country tracks, many starting in the Holmenkollen arena at the foot of the famous ski jumping hill.
Oslo - some facts and figures
Oslo is home to almost 600 000 inhabitants, and over 10 % of the entire population of Norway. Among Oslo’s 60 000 students, almost 75 % come from outside Oslo.
Although Norwegian is the official language in Norway, most of the inhabitants in Oslo are both happy and able to communicate with newcomers in English – many even speak a third language, such as French, German or Spanish.
More facts about Oslo on Visitoslo.com
UiO and Oslo
The University of Oslo’s original campus is located in the city centre, adjacent to the Royal Palace and the Parliament. The main campus of Blindern, just minutes away by subway, tram, or bike from the heart of Oslo, offers proximity to the forests and hills surrounding the city and affords wonderful views of the Oslo Fjord.
The University of Oslo Events programme organizes trips and excursions, allowing new students to venture into the nature and culture of the “fjord capital” and its surroundings.
Blindern campus
Blindern campus functions like a small community with welfare services and student organisations and several shops and cafeterias.
Read our Campus Guide to find out more about Blindern Campus.
Experience Norway from Oslo
Norway is known for its outstanding nature, and all of this is easily accessible from Oslo. You can travel to see the northern lights "Aurora Borealis", experience the midnight sun, and discover the beautiful fjords and mountains all over the country. Students in Norway love the fresh air, quiet atmosphere, clean water and vast areas of space – and nature.